July 24, 2018 DAILY READING 1 Corinthians 15:19-28Psalm 114This weekend’s reading: Romans 3:20-24 FIELD NOTES John Wesley, in his sermon, The Repentance of Believers, says this: “Continue to believe in him that loved thee and gave himself for thee, that bore all thy sins in his own body on the tree; and he saveth thee from…

July 23, 2018 DAILY READING 1 Corinthians 15:12-20Psalm 114This weekend’s reading: Romans 3:20-24 FIELD NOTES Paul implores us that the resurrection is real.  If it weren’t real he says, what is the point?  What is the point of church?  Of Bible study?  All of this that we call Christianity, what is the point if the resurrection didn’t happen? We have…

July 21, 2018 DAILY READING Psalm 23 Luke 18:35-43This weekend’s reading: Matthew 14:22-32 FIELD NOTES In today’s story, a blind man asks Jesus for help. “Son of David, have mercy on me,” he shouts as Jesus makes his way past him, surrounded by a noisy crowd. When Jesus hears this one, lone voice above the…

July 20, 2018 DAILY READING Psalm 23Acts 17:16-31This weekend’s reading: Matthew 14:22-32 FIELD NOTES When you think of “idols,” what do you think of first? I think of some kind of primitive, scary-looking statue covered with gold and with emeralds for eyes — something that Indiana Jones would be searching for deep in a rainforest…

July 19, 2018 DAILY READING Psalm 23Colossians 1:15-23This weekend’s reading: Matthew 14:22-32 FIELD NOTES If you were to see a picture of my husband as a young adult and then look at a photo of our son who’s in his early 30s now, you would be amazed at how much two people can look alike.…

July 18, 2018 DAILY READING Psalm 142Amos 9:11-15This weekend’s reading: Matthew 14:22-32 FIELD NOTES Several years ago, we lived in a house that had a patio bordered by a large cherry tree. In the spring, the tree would be covered with pale pink blossoms shimmering in the light breeze. In the summer, its thick green…

July 17, 2018 DAILY READING Psalm 142Acts 23:12-35This weekend’s reading: Matthew 14:22-32 FIELD NOTES Today’s passage from Acts reads like an action movie — complete with intrigue, a plotted assassination and an escape by night under military protection. What was it about Paul that made him so dangerous to the religious establishment in Jerusalem? He…

July 16, 2018 DAILY READING Psalm 142Amos 5:1-9This weekend’s reading: Matthew 14:22-32 FIELD NOTES One of the first constellations I learned to identify in the dark winter sky was Orion. With its three bright stars aligned diagonally like the belt of a warrior, it was easy to spot on a clear night, striding across the…